Monarda plant named ‘MONARD0044’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Monarda plant named ‘MONARD0044’, characterized by its broadly upright plant habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; large inflorescences with purple violet-colored flowers; long flowering period; and tolerance to Powdery Mildew.

Botanical designation: Monarda didyma.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MONARD0044’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Monarda Plant Named ‘MONARD0039’

Applicant: Henricus Maria Joseph Holtmaat

Filed: Concurrently with this application Ser. No. 15/732,923

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Monardaplant, botanically known as Monarda didyma, typically grown as acontainer plant and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘MONARD0044’.

The new Monarda plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Zuidwolde, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new Monarda plants with attractiveflowers and tolerance to Powdery Mildew.

The new Monarda plant originated from a cross-pollination in July, 2014of two unnamed selections of Monarda didyma, not patented. The newMonarda plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a singleflowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollinationgrown in a controlled environment in Zuidwolde, The Netherlands in July,2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Monarda plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in Zuidwolde, The Netherlands, since March, 2017 has shown thatthe unique features of this new Monarda plant are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Monarda have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘MONARD0044’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘MONARD0044’ as a new and distinct Monardaplant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright plant habit.    -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Large inflorescences with purple violet-colored flowers.    -   5. Long flowering period.    -   6. Tolerant to Powdery Mildew.

Plants of the new Monarda differ primarily from plants of the parentselections in plant uniformity as plants of the new Monarda are moreuniform than plants of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Monarda can be compared to plants of Monarda didyma‘MONARD0039’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Patent filed concurrently Ser. No.15/732,923. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Monardadiffer primarily from plants of ‘MONARD0039’ in flower color as plantsof ‘MONARD0039’ have purple-colored flowers. In addition, plants of thenew Monarda are more compact than plants of ‘MONARD0039’.

Plants of the new Monarda can be compared to plants of Monarda didyma‘Purple Ann’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of thenew Monarda differ primarily from plants of ‘Purple Ann’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Monarda are more freely flowering than        plants of ‘Purple Ann’.    -   2. Plants of the new Monarda are more tolerant to Powdery Mildew        than plants of ‘Purple Ann’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Monarda plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Monarda plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘MONARD0044’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view oftypical inflorescences of ‘MONARD0044’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view oftypical leaves of ‘MONARD0044’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the late summer and early autumnin 19-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Zuidwolde, The Netherlandsand under cultural practices typical of commercial Monarda production.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C.to 30° C. and night temperatures ranged from 6° C. to 18° C. Plants wereone year old when the photographs and the description were taken. In thedetailed description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Monarda didyma ‘MONARD0044’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Monarda            didyma, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Monarda            didyma, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 15 days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About two            months at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            creamy white in color, actual color of the roots is            dependent on substrate composition, water quality,            fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and            physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; broadly            upright plant habit; overall plant form, obovate; moderately            vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 44.5            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 48.4            cm.        -   Plant width.—About 52.7 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely basal            branching habit with about 19 main stems. Length: About            17.7 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Internode length: About            5.2 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 25° to 30° from            vertical. Texture and luster: Moderately pubescent; slightly            glossy. Color, developing: Close to 144B. Color, developed:            Close to 143A tinged with close to 187A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 9.8 cm.        -   Width.—About 5.9 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Moderately pubescent and            slightly rugose; slightly glossy.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Densely pubescent and            moderately rugose; matted.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant; pleasant, spicy.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Slightly darker than between            147A and N189A; venation, close to N186C. Fully expanded            leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B; venation, close to            146D.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm by            4 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous; slightly glossy. Texture, lower surface: Densely            pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to N186C.            Color, lower surface: Close to 146C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower form, arrangement and flowering habit.—Single labiate            flowers arranged in large terminal globular spikes; flowers            sessile; flowers face upright to outwardly; freely flowering            habit with about 200 flowers developing per inflorescence            and about 22,500 flowers developing per plant during the            flowering season.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering habit, plants            flower from late spring into the summer in The Netherlands;            plants begin flowering about two months after planting.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers maintain good substance            for about one week on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.            Shape: Narrowly oblanceolate; curved. Texture and luster:            Densely pubescent; matte. Color: Close to N81A; towards the            apex, close to N82B; immature calyx, close to 143B to 143C.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 4.6 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 7.7 cm.        -   Flower length (vertical).—About 1.6 cm.        -   Flower diameter (horizontal).—About 8 mm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 3.6 cm.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Labiate; upper lip hooded; lower lip, a            single lobe; lips fused lower 66.7% of total length. Length,            upper and lower lips: About 3.2 cm. Width, upper lip: About            2 mm. Width, lower lip: About 7 mm. Shape, upper lip:            Lanceolate; apex, narrowly acute. Shape, lower lip:            Oblanceolate; apex, emarginate. Margin, upper and lower            lips: Entire; lower petal, moderately undulate. Texture and            luster, upper and lower lips, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous; slightly velvety; matte. Texture and luster, upper            and lower lips, lower surface: Densely pubescent; velvety;            matte. Color, upper lip: When opening and fully opened,            upper surface: Close to N80B; color does not change with            development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:            Close to N80A; color does not change with development.            Color, lower lip: When opening and fully opened, upper            surface: Close to N80B; color does not change with            development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:            Close to N80C; color does not change with development.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a single whorl;            lower 87.5% fused into a tubular calyx. Length: About 8 mm.            Width: About 1 mm. Apex: Acute. Margin: Free parts, entire.            Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; upper            edge of tube, moderately pubescent; matte. Texture and            luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; upper edge of tube,            moderately pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: When opening,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143B to 143C. Fully            opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143C; apical            margins, close to 146A.        -   Inflorescence bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About nine            at the base of inflorescence. Length: About 2.6 cm. Width:            About 1.8 cm. Shape: Ovate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper            surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety. Texture, lower            surface: Densely pubescent. Color: When opening and fully            opened, upper surface: Close to between 147A and N189A. When            opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 137B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Two.            Filament length: About 1.6 cm. Filament color: Close to N80C            to N80D. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly            elliptic; dorsifixed. Anther color: Close to N80D. Pollen            amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 8C. Pistils:            Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 3.5 cm.            Stigma diameter: About 0.5 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft, unequal.            Stigma color: Close to 83B. Style length: About 3.4 cm.            Style color: Close to N82A; proximally, close to NN155D.            Ovary color: Close to 144B.        -   Seed and fruit.—Seed and fruit production have not been            observed on plants of the new Monarda to date.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Monarda have been    observed to be tolerant to Powdery Mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum).    Plants of the new Monarda have not been observed to be resistant to    pests and other pathogens common to Monarda plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Monarda have exhibited good    tolerance to rain, wind and high temperatures about 40° C. and to be    suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 10.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Monarda plant named ‘MONARD0044’ asillustrated and described.